Teen to serve 15 to 30 years for fatally shooting man in York
Yonti Ritter, 16, of York, pleaded guilty on Monday to third-degree murder in the killing of Jimmy Avila-Velez, 26, of York, which happened on Nov. 10, 2017.
Dylan SegelbaumA teenager who fatally shot a man in an alley in York in a killing that was captured on surveillance video will serve 15 to 30 years in prison.
Yonti Ritter, 16, of York, pleaded guilty on Monday to third-degree murder. He killed Jimmy Avila-Velez, 26, of York, on Nov. 10, 2017.
“I’d like to apologize to the family,” said Ritter, who was 15 at the time. “Sorry to my family," he added.
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The murder happened on West Newton Avenue near Cedar Street. Prosecutors dropped the remaining charges in the case, which included first-degree murder, firearms not to be carried without a license and possession of a firearm by a minor.
Avila-Velez’s loved ones did not make statements.
Common Pleas Judge Michael E. Bortner meticulously explained to Ritter the rights that he was giving up with a guilty plea. He was also ordered to pay $6,500 in restitution.
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Family members and York City Police Detective Travis Sowers, who filed the charges, agreed with the resolution, Senior Deputy Prosecutor Dave Maisch said.
Maisch said police did a “fantastic job” in piecing the case together. He said the investigation did not reveal a motive for the crime.
“Sometimes, we don’t get a motive in a case,” Maisch said. “Just that it happened.”’
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Outside the courtroom, Kevin Hoffman, Ritter’s attorney, said, “He accepts responsibility for what he did.”
Contact Dylan Segelbaum at 717-771-2102.
Check out this photo gallery of York County's most wanted: (The photos and information published are provided by the York County Sheriff's Office. To report information on any of these individuals, call York County Crime Stoppers at 717-755-TIPS.)